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The demand for interns

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Listed:
  • Jaeger, David A.
  • Nunley, John M.
  • Seals, R. Alan
  • Shandra, Carrie L.
  • Wilbrandt, Eric J.

Abstract

We describe the demand for interns in the U.S. using ads from an internship-specific website. We find that internships are more likely to be paid when more closely associated with a specific occupation, when the local labor market has lower unemployment, and when the local and federal minimum wage are the same. A résumé audit study with about 11,000 applications reveals that employers are more likely to respond positively when internship applicants have previous internship experience. Particularly for unpaid internships, employers are also less likely to respond to applicants with black-sounding names and when the applicant is more distant from the firm.

Suggested Citation

  • Jaeger, David A. & Nunley, John M. & Seals, R. Alan & Shandra, Carrie L. & Wilbrandt, Eric J., 2023. "The demand for interns," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 209(C), pages 372-390.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:209:y:2023:i:c:p:372-390
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2023.03.002
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    1. Nunley, John M. & Pugh, Adam & Romero, Nicholas & Seals, R. Alan, 2016. "College major, internship experience, and employment opportunities: Estimates from a résumé audit," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 37-46.
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    3. Jaeger, David A. & Nunley, John M. & Seals, R. Alan & Shandra, Carrie L. & Wilbrandt, Eric J., 2023. "The demand for interns," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 209(C), pages 372-390.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ian Burn & Patrick Button & Luis Felipe Munguia Corella & David Neumark, 2019. "Older Workers Need Not Apply? Ageist Language in Job Ads and Age Discrimination in Hiring," NBER Working Papers 26552, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Jaeger, David A. & Nunley, John M. & Seals, R. Alan & Shandra, Carrie L. & Wilbrandt, Eric J., 2023. "The demand for interns," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 209(C), pages 372-390.
    3. Doerrenberg, Philipp & Duncan, Denvil & Li, Danyang, 2024. "The (in)visible hand: Do workers discriminate against employers?," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    4. Ilse Tobback & Dieter Verhaest & Stijn Baert, 2024. "Internships, Hiring Outcomes and Underlying Mechanisms: A Stated Preferences Experiment," De Economist, Springer, vol. 172(1), pages 25-48, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Internships; Resume audit; Minimum wage; Racial discrimination; Unemployment; College major;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand

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